Posted on 08/12/2014 5:37:04 PM PDT by lifeofgrace
Probably the same way anyone else involved in an accident lives with it. Simply acknowledging that events were beyond his personal control. You folks wanting to hang stewart without even knowing the facts act like nobody has ever died before.
What hasn't been said in any of the threads that I read is that knowing that a car flipped and crashed (not just crashed), and that a yellow flag was out, the drivers should have been expecting service vehicles to be entering the track to remove the car and should have been on the lookout for it. That means slowing down, being aware of the goings on at the track entry point, and being aware of the goings on at the crash site.
I put an extra burden on a veteran like Stewart to role model the safety culture of NASCAR.
-PJ
lol the ambassador. Perhaps he should just let them win every race.
He was doing what every other driver was doing, slowing down.
Again, keeping to the point of this thread, the discussion is about bringing the appropriate amount aggression to the event. This wasn't a thread about the forensics of the incident (where you seem to be stuck), it was about the decisions that were made throughout the event and the relative stakes at hand.
The author made the point that a dirt-track race in a podunk town in upstate New York with 20-something-year-old competitors is possibly not the venue where a 3-time NASCAR champ NEEDS to reinforce his bona fides. Stewart could easily have brought his competitiveness down a notch, and instead used the event to promote racing, to promote good racing practice, to get to know up-and-coming drivers, and perhaps to teach them a thing or two about style and technique.
What Stewart did NOT need to do was bump and flip, and essentially terrorize the track. This Google search (sprint car racing accidents) shows that lots of people are being killed in these races across the country. If anyone would have the experience (should I say "wisdom") to know the dangers of aggressive sprint car driving, it would be Stewart. So why wouldn't he back off a step or two at this, for him, insignificant event and use it to teach the up-and-coming?
That's what the author was trying to say.
-PJ
He’s there because thats where he started and he enjoys doing it. He doesn’t come close to winning every race from what I’ve read so its obviously a higher level of competition then you are assuming.
Sprint car racing is very dangerous. EVERYONE involved knows it.
I’ve seen the video a few times, I’m not 100% sure Tony could see him, and more importantly could see him in time to do anything. These low rent dirt tracks aren’t well lit, Kevin was wearing black, and the whole thing happened in a curve which those cars generally go around just barely under control with very limited steering option. Not really seeing where anybody should press charges or punish Tony in anyway.
I have a few friends that have been involved in accidents that had fatalities. The answer is, eventually they find a way, but it’s a hard road filled with a lot of doubt, nightmares, and usually large psychiatric bills.
Ted didn't care one whit about it
if he was in front of Stewart then how did he get hit by the side of the car?
Because Tony accelerated and slide into him. Might have been on purpose but we will never know.
it was under a caution flag
how fast do they go under caution?
His real mistake is thinking that a guy who slammed him into the wall on purpose wouldn’t do it again
You turn these cars by accelerating.
If you turn quickly you slide and the side of the car would be the obvious point of impact.
Might have been aliens but we’ll never know.
In most of the races I have watched speeds under yellow range from about 30 mph to 55 mph (when they rev up).
His real mistake was losing his temper and getting out of his car. Sprint car drivers are very competitive, and ending up up in the dirt along the wall and losing it are not infrequent events. Had Mr. Ward had the ability to drive down into Stewart he might well have to force him back, but he probably couldn't because of the limited traction where he was. Watch some sprint car racing, you'll see some pretty intense driving.
It is a terribly sad situation for Mr. Ward's family, friends, and everyone who loves the sport - including Mr. Stewart.
I’m not buying his take on it.
Yes.
Well, no.
I watched the video, and that didn't happen.
In any type of racing, the person lower on the track and/or ahead of the other car has "position,' which means the guy above and/or behind needs to beware and give way.
This particular type of car swings the rear to the outside of the track entering and through turns. The kid was where he shouldn't have been, and if he had any amount of wheel time, he knew that.
Stewart did nothing wrong which would have put this guy "into the wall."
Ping for those that have not seen this thread.
Notice how his right leg is stretched out
I'm wondering if he slipped on a muddy track or it was intentional on his part.
Sad but have you ever had a deer run out in front of your car. Not much time to react. And cars don't instantaneously go where your mind tells them to.
To sum up you post, the author has a bad case of diarrhea of the mouth
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